Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 84: Organizing a Banquet

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Organizing a Banquet

"Zheng Fa Initiates"

Zheng Fa sat in his study, looking at the envelope in his hand, hesitating for a moment before deciding to open it.

Since the Immortal Item meeting, he had not seen Gao Yuan.

Last night, Seventh Young Master suddenly handed him a letter, saying it was left for him by Gao Yuan.

"When you read this letter, I will probably have already embarked on the journey to study at Jingyang Academy. You, being such a smart person, probably didn’t expect that I would be the first among us three to leave."

Zheng Fa was stunned, not expecting that Gao Yuan had already left the Zhao Family. He had heard of Jingyang Academy—it was famous but also very far.

"You once said the young master is a good person, I didn’t quite believe it before, but now I do. I asked the young master for help, and to my surprise, not only did he obtain my indenture from Mrs. Zheng, but he also asked Mr. Shen to write a recommendation letter for me to the dean of the academy."

Zheng Fa smiled and continued reading.

"It was I who asked the young master to keep it from you."

"I don’t want you and the young master to come back one day, finding me with white hair while your black hair remains untouched. I also don’t want to face someone I consider a close friend today with bent knees and a bowed spine, calling him ’Immortal lord’ in deference. Originally, I was willing to, but for some reason, after meeting you, I became unwilling."

"I once thought, among the three of us, I am probably the most unworthy one. The young master is inherently kind-hearted, you are clear-minded, while I have always been grasping and obsessed with comparing to others. Now you have gone to the Immortal Sect, and I can only remain alone in the mortal world."

Zheng Fa’s fingers tightened slightly, and it took him a while to continue reading.

"Zheng Fa, if I were you, I would probably feel very proud and joyous. But you are not, you always seem to feel that the world should not be as it is."

"That’s why I want to go to the academy, to continue studying, to try to be a minor official, to see what I can do for this world."

"If you indeed become a great person in the Immortal Sect and still haven’t changed anything about this world, I might have to laugh at you when we meet again."

Gently putting down the letter, Zheng Fa walked to the window and gazed into the distance, not even he himself knew what he was feeling.

Suddenly, a noisy sound came from outside, interrupting his thoughts.

Huang Yu in the outer yard also heard the noise. He first looked at Zheng Fa, and seeing Zheng Fa nod at him, he curiously went out.

Outside, the street was in disarray; a street lined with red fabrics formed tents, dozens of wooden tables filled the entire street, and at the street’s end stood several large pots, with three burly chefs vigorously stirring their spatulas.

Huang Yu realized, this was probably a feast being prepared by the household next door, the scale was very grand, blocking the entire street.

Some men, looking like restaurant servers, hurried between the tables and chairs, seemingly making final arrangements.

Huang Yu grabbed a man and asked, "Are you guys hosting a banquet?"

"Yes, a running banquet! It goes for three days non-stop; you’re welcome to eat anytime!"

The man was quite enthusiastic.

Huang Yu scratched his head, "Whose family is it? So generous?"

"The Zheng Family!"

"...Which Zheng Family?" Huang Yu was stunned.

"Are you inexperienced? On this street, aside from Zheng Fa and Master Zheng’s household, which other Zheng family could afford such luxury?"

Hearing this, Huang Yu looked doubtfully at the small courtyard of the Zheng Family behind him, then pointed to himself, "But I... am from the Zheng Family!"

Both sides looked at each other, confused. Then Huang Yu sprinted back into the Zheng Family’s courtyard.

Zheng Fa was also baffled, only coming to understand a bit after stepping outside—it was probably Mrs. Zheng’s doing.

Because Housekeeper Wu was standing at the door, instructing the servers on something.

"Housekeeper Wu? What’s going on here?"

As soon as Housekeeper Wu turned around and saw it was Zheng Fa calling him, he hurried over with his shoulders slightly hunched, his head even lower than when they last met.

"Master Zheng."

"It’s premature to call me a Master," Zheng Fa waved his hand.

"It’s a matter of time, calling you early doesn’t make a difference," Housekeeper Wu said with a smile. "Do you need something?"

"This is..."

"Oh, it’s instructed by the lady. She said it’s to celebrate your ascension to the Immortal Sect."

Zheng Fa slightly frowned upon hearing this.

This neither aligns with his wishes nor with the madam’s style.

Housekeeper Wu’s voice lowered a bit as he said, "Actually, it was Seventh Young Master’s idea."

That makes sense, it’s something he would come up with.

"Madam didn’t stop him?"

"Seventh Young Master said that, after all, Master Zheng, you come from a humble background and might find yourself financially strapped after joining the Immortal Sect. His initial thought was to send you some gold and silver."

Zheng Fa nodded slightly.

"Madam stopped him, saying there was no need for our family to send this money and that others would."

Zheng Fa was even more puzzled.

"Madam instructed me to organize this banquet. Rest assured, Master Zheng, it will not tarnish your reputation in the slightest. Regardless of who comes, be they poor or rich, a beggar or a down-and-out, they just need to congratulate you and they can have a full meal!"

"..."

"See, those are the ones giving money to Master Zheng."

Housekeeper Wu seemed to notice his puzzlement and pointed to the street corner, where a small table was set up with a man dressed as an accountant sitting behind it.

If someone offers a gift of money, he records it in the ledger in front of him.

A few slightly familiar people are currently handing over banknotes at the table.

Aren’t they those young masters from the Chen Family?

Behind them were some others, dressed extravagantly, clearly from prominent families.

Now Zheng Fa understood, "So, is this about using the banquet to amass wealth?"

"What do you mean amass wealth? This is clearly presenting an opportunity for the elders in Jingzhou to show their respect for you, Master Zheng!"

Housekeeper Wu spoke with righteous indignation.

Zheng Fa frowned, his nature reluctant to be so ostentatious.

Housekeeper Wu seemed to detect his displeasure and even complained, "Master, you don’t understand. After the Immortal Item meeting, many powerful families have been plotting... They have no access and thus came to madam!"

"..." Zheng Fa did not expect this twist.

"If madam kept interfering, they’d think the Zhao Family wants to keep you to themselves, unwilling to let you interact with them." The bitterness on Housekeeper Wu’s face seemed genuine. "So madam thought, why not hold a gathering? This way they can visit once, and it might grant you some peace in the future."

Zheng Fa nodded, understanding this was a necessary compromise.

"Madam also thought, after you leave, with Mrs. Zheng and the young miss staying in Jingzhou, she was worried some might cause trouble. This is also a chance to make the smaller and larger powers recognize their place..."

Zheng Fa fell silent for a moment and then walked towards the street to thank those who had brought gift money.

They seemed unexpectedly fearful as Zheng Fa personally thanked them.

While watching these unsolicited visitors, he remembered Gao Yuan who left without saying goodbye.

In his heart, he still favored the latter a bit.

...

Seeing Zheng Fa attending to the guests, Housekeeper Wu suddenly tugged at Huang Yu’s sleeve.

"Hmm?"

Huang Yu looked down and saw Housekeeper Wu stuffing a delicate Jade Pendant into his hand.

"This is..." Huang Yu puzzled, "Housekeeper Wu’s gift money?"

"Do I qualify?" Housekeeper Wu choked, "It’s for you!"

"For me?" Huang Yu looked down at the Jade Pendant, noting its fine quality, certainly something his father didn’t have.

"What are you trying to do?"

"Nothing, just forging a good relationship." Housekeeper Wu, seeing him handling the jade pendant as if it burned him, chuckled and said, "Their young masters curry favor with your young master, as a housekeeper I can only try to win over you... Take it, it’s fine if you tell your young master later."

Huang Yu carefully tucked the Jade Pendant into his bosom, and listened as Housekeeper Wu commented, "You don’t realize how good your father has set your position."

Touching the Jade Pendant nestled against his chest, he felt for the first time the pleasure of association.